In April, the Colorado Water Trust and the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) struck a first-of-its-kind deal that keeps the Little Cimarron River flowing all year, when both farmers and fish need it.
With support from the Walton Family Foundation and in partnership with Western Rivers Conservancy, the Colorado Water Trust purchased water rights from a ranch along the Little Cimarron in 2014 – initiating the journey that led to the innovative new water-sharing solution on the river. Dedicated to preserving the state’s rich agriculture, ecology and outdoor recreation, the Water Trust and CWCB crafted an agreement that lets ranchers use purchased water rights to irrigate the traditional pastures into the summer, and then leave the water in the river when flows begin to drop.
However, the agreement’s impact does not stop at the banks of the Little Cimarron – it is a pioneering step in driving conservation solutions that make economic sense for local communities.
According to Amy Beatie, executive director of the Colorado Water Trust, the deal is “a great new example of how water sharing can work on the ground within the state’s existing laws to bring together what are usually seen as incompatible uses.”
Already, Coloradans are starting to see how a “split season” water agreement could help keep their river and ranches healthy year round. CWCB director James Eklund captured the powerful significance of the new agreement simply: “Our rivers and our farms are at the heart of what makes Colorado so special,” he said. This agreement is a model for future agriculture and conservation partnerships.”
